Miroslav Klose, the legendary German striker, has voiced his belief that Lionel Messi will eclipse his World Cup scoring milestone during the 2026 tournament. In an interview with Süddeutsche Zeitung, Klose expressed his admiration for the Argentine captain, calling him a “genius.”
The current record holder, who netted 16 goals across 24 World Cup fixtures, acknowledged that the expanded format—featuring more teams and matches—gives players increased chances to add to their tally. Messi, with 13 goals from 26 appearances, needs just four more to surpass Klose’s benchmark.
“I anticipate my record will fall in this competition,” Klose stated. “With additional teams, there are more games, so more opportunities to score. I expect Argentina and France to advance deep into the tournament. It’s only a matter of time before the record is broken, and I’d be happy for Messi to do it.”
The Inter Miami forward has long been a favorite of Klose, who reiterated his admiration: “I’ve always been a huge fan of Messi. He’s a genius on the pitch.”